Heroin dealer sent to prison

HONESDALE - A major area drug dealer was sentenced in the Wayne County Courthouse on Thursday for three charges of delivering heroin and one charge for possession of heroin.

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By Kelly Waterskwaters@wayneindependent.com

Wayne Independent - Honesdale, PA

By Kelly Waterskwaters@wayneindependent.com

Posted May. 9, 2013 at 3:00 PM
Updated May 10, 2013 at 10:43 AM

By Kelly Waterskwaters@wayneindependent.com

Posted May 9, 2013 at 3:00 PM
Updated May 10, 2013 at 10:43 AM

HONESDALE - A major area drug dealer was sentenced in the Wayne County Courthouse on Thursday for three charges of delivering heroin and one charge for possession of heroin.

John Henneforth Jr., 34, pleaded guilty to all four charges on March 8. The District Attorney's office had four cases against him for incidents that occurred on June 5, Aug. 8, Aug. 21 and Aug. 28, 2012.

There were three counts of delivery, which were considered felonies, and one count of possession of heroin that was considered a misdemeanor.

On Aug. 28, 2012 he was arrested at around 11 a.m. at 215 Terrace Street, Apt. 2, in Honesdale.

According to police, more than 400 bags of heroin and more than 20 bags of cocaine were confiscated by police. Police also seized two motorcycles, a Nissan Pathfinder, numerous items of drug paraphernalia, many devices commonly used to conceal drugs in vehicles and two flat screen televisions.

He was charged with six felonies and two misdemeanors related to the sale of heroin and cocaine in Texas and Cherry Ridge townships.

District Attorney Janine Edwards said controlled purchases were made by the Pennsylvania State Police Vice Unit and the Wayne County Drug Task Force utilizing confidential informants and undercover law enforcement officers.

On Sept. 17, 2012 Henneforth was back in court facing charges related to dealing in Honesdale Borough and Dyberry Township.

In these complaints, on two occasions in August 2012, it is alleged Henneforth sold heroin in Dyberry Township at the Wayne County Fairgrounds to a confidential informant working with undercover law enforcement officers.

The new information also alleged Henneforth sold heroin and cocaine to a confidential informant working in Honesdale Borough on two occasions.

He was arraigned before Magisterial District Justice Ted Mikulak on felony charges relating to delivery of a controlled substance.

Mikulak set bond at $250,000 for the charges filed. That is on top of the $250,000 bond which was set on the original charges from August 2012.

"My client has been remorseful and it's clear he feels guilty for what he did," said Henneforth's attorney Chris Farrell. "He realizes he's hurt not just the people he sold to but also their families. He's thankful for where he's at now. He really wants to do what's necessary to get forgiveness. He wants to serve his sentence and do what he can to get his life together."

"To the families, peers and community and most importantly to the people I hurt, I apologize for any pain I've caused," said Henneforth. "I hope to redeem myself and become a member of society again."

"It always strikes me that the public is so naïve as to how people come to deal drugs," said Judge Raymond Hamill. "They think someone is born a drug dealer and that its their whole being from the time they are born to the time they are caught, but that isn't how it is. You (Henneforth) and others are the main course that lead people to drugs."

Page 2 of 2 - Hamill referenced something he wrote, where Henneforth stated, "after all that happened I'm more depressed than I ever thought possible."

It went on to say that a friend offered Henneforth financial help, but that there was a catch of "100 percent interest." Henneforth wrote that would be the "moment I regretted taking the money." It was a choice he had made over continuing to try to find a job.

"More lives are ruined with opiates like heroin," said Hamill. "How can you justify giving people that kind of poison?"

Henneforth agreed that you couldn't.

"You started out with two bundles and sold them in individual bags," Hamill added. "Then you went to larger quantities. You even wrote that it was like going from bundles to bricks."

By the time Henneforth was done dealing drugs he was making "about $250" in profit weekly.

For the first charge of count 1 delivery of heroin Henneforth was sentenced to 9 months to 36 months in jail as well as getting a DNA test and paying the $250 cost, a $1,000 fine and $500 restitution with a minimum of $100 a month.

For the second charge of count 1 delivery of heroin he was sentenced to 12 months to 36 months in jail and paying a $1,000 fine. For the third charge of count 1 delivery of heroin he was sentenced to 9 months to 36 months in jail and paying a $1,000 fine.

For the fourth charge of possession of heroin he was sentenced to 1 month to 12 months in jail and a $500 fine.

Henneforth also has to pay the cost of prosecution for all four charges. His total sentence is 31 months to 120 months at the state correctional facility. He has 254 days of credit.